On Wednesday, September 13, the Crofton High School women’s JV and Varsity soccer teams each played a game against C. Milton Wright High School in honor of Sophomore Caroline Ray, #21 on Crofton’s Women’s Varsity Soccer team. Both games were themed yellow-out to support Caroline while she fights osteosarcoma, a rare form of cancer. JV lost their game 2-3, and Varsity won theirs 10-0.

Fans from Crofton High School, parents, and others filled the stands with yellow apparel. They wore yellow t-shirts with the logo “#CarolineStrong” and yellow wrist bands, which were both on sale at the concessions to help fund TeamCarolineStrong, a Venmo donation source with a goal of $15,000. As for the team’s apparel, they both wore yellow practice shirts while off the field, yellow socks, hair ribbons, and bands on their legs to show their support during the games. The opposing teams also showed their support by wearing yellow hair ties and leg bands.

The coaches of the Crofton and C. Milton Wright High School teams also all wore yellow shirts to show their support. Crofton JV coach Laura Barrett, who is also a Crofton Middle School teacher, showed her support by sharing her thoughts on the teams and their unity this year.

“I think it’s great that our JV players are getting behind their teammate, whether JV or Varsity, we’re all one family in the girls soccer program,” Barrett said. 

“I’m very excited for this team and the comradery that they have together, they’re like one big family and they continue to surprise me everyday. We are a drama free team and we take care of each other, so we have big things coming this season.”

The amount of love and support that the Crofton community has shown was immensely overwhelming. Another inspiring example of this is the Crofton Varsity Football team changed their theme for the September 14 game from red-out to yellow-out to support Caroline. The Crofton community will continue to support Caroline Ray, as well as represent the school’s focus on connections within the building and the surrounding area.

Community members who wish to support can donate to the family on Mealtrain or on Venmo @ TeamCarolineStrong. They’ve raised more than $5,000 so far, and the goal is $15,000.